Interpersonal Communication- A Mindful Approach to Relationships, 2020a

Society of America. If you want to go into training and development, becoming a student member of
the Association for Talent Development. Want to go into nonprofit work, become a member of the
Association for Volunteer Administration or the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network. If you do not
have a student chapter of one of these groups on your campus, then find a group on LinkedIn or another
social networking site aimed at professionals. One of the great things about modern social networking is
the ability to watch professionals engaging in professional dialogue virtually. By watching the discussions
in LinkedIn groups, you can start to pick up on the major issues of a field and some of the everyday
jargon.
Key Takeaways
• A profession is an occupation that involves mastery of complex knowledge and skills
through prolonged training, education, or practical experience. Professionalism,
on the other hand, involves the aims and behaviors that demonstrate an individual’s
level of competence expected by a professional within a given profession.
• The term ethics is defined as the judgmental attachment to whether something is
good, right, or just. In our society, there have been several notable ethical lapses,
including those by such companies as United Airlines, Facebook, Equifax, and the
Environmental Protection Agency. Starting in fall 2017, the #MeToo movement
started shining a light on a wide range of ethical issues involving the abuse of one’s
power to achieve sexual desires in the entertainment industry. This movement
has raised awareness and legal action against a broad range of individuals who had
previously gotten away with the illegal behavior in the workplace.
• Respecting our coworkers is one of the most essential keys to developing a positive
organizational experience. There are many simple things we can do to show our
respect, but one crucial feature is thinking about the types of langue we use. Avoid
using language that is considered biased and marginalizing.
• Personal responsibility refers to an individual’s willingness to be accountable for
what they feel, think, and behave. Part of being a successful coworker is taking
responsibility for your behaviors, communication, and task achievement in the
workplace.
• Formal language is a specific writing and spoken style that adheres to strict
conventions of grammar. Conversely, informal language is more colloquial or
common in tone; it contains simple, direct sentences; uses contractions and
abbreviations, and allows for a more personal approach that includes emotional
displays.
Exercises
• Think of a time in an organization where you witnessed unethical organizational
communication. Which components of Redding’s typology did you witness? Did
you do anything about the unethical organizational communication? Why?
• Look at the list of respectful behaviors for workplace interactions. How would
you react if others violated these respectful behaviors towards you as a coworker?
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